Career Center

Instructor Position (Non-tenure track faculty) in Understanding the Molecular Basis of Inherited Hearing Loss and Developing New Therapeutics

NIH funded Instructor position (non-tenure track faculty) is available immediately in the lab of Prof. Zubair Ahmed (Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Translational Research) at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore.

Our mission: Usher syndrome (USH) is the leading cause of inherited deaf-blindness. Children with USH have hearing and vestibular deficits as well as retinitis pigmentosa. We use a broad range of techniques from human genetics, viral-mediated gene delivery, neurophysiological and molecular studies in vivo and in vitro , using tissue culture, mouse models, and zebrafish. Our ultimate goal is to understand the molecular basis of hearing deficits in USH kids and to develop new treatments to restore their hearing and vestibular functions.

Job description: NIH funded full-time Instructor position (non-tenure track faculty) leading projects related to the molecular understanding of novel USH genes and translational approaches to improve hearing and vestibular functions in transgenic mouse models. These projects will require knowledge/training in the inner ear cell biology, animal models, high resolution imaging, and physiological techniques (e.g. ABR, DPOAEs), amongst other techniques.

Ideal candidates are highly motivated and ambitious PhD graduates in neuroscience, cellular or molecular biology, or biochemistry with at least 3 years of postdoctoral training in the inner ear cell biology, physiology, or characterization of animal models with deafness. Experience in auditory functional testing (ABR, DPOAEs) in mice, cochlear microdissection, high resolution confocal imaging, molecular biology, and animal handling is preferable. The candidate must be a team player, think critically, highly organized with excellent oral and written communication skills.

Environment: The laboratory is part of the departments of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Ophthalmology, and we are affiliated also with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The lab is housed in a newly build large open space at the University of Maryland - HSFIII, in a highly collaborative fashion. The University has state of the art confocal, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, proteomics, flow cytometry and immunology, animal and sequencing facilities. We have the skills and expertise to perform in-depth functional analyses of vision, auditory, and vestibular dysfunction in mouse and zebrafish. The team consists of graduate students, post docs, residents, and surgeons working together on basic science and translational studies. Initial appointment will be for two years and can be renewed contingent on performance and available funding.

Benefits: Salary follows the UMSOM guidelines and full health benefits.

Contact: Applications for the position should include a cover letter describing major research achievements and skills, a curriculum vitae, and career goals statement. Please also provide contact information of three professional references. Materials should be sent to: Zubair Ahmed, PhD email: zmahmed@som.umaryland.edu

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Ideal candidates are highly motivated and ambitious PhD graduates in neuroscience, cellular or molecular biology, or biochemistry with at least 3 years of postdoctoral training in the inner ear cell biology, physiology, or characterization of animal models with deafness. Experience in auditory functional testing (ABR, DPOAEs) in mice, cochlear microdissection, high resolution confocal imaging, molecular biology, and animal handling is preferable. The candidate must be a team player, think critically, highly organized with excellent oral and written communication skills.